The cardiac 2018 Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team struck again Friday night with junior Alex Garland's 11th-inning home run capping the Grizzlies' 10-9 comeback victory against Lindsey Wilson College in the opening game of a weekend series at the Grizzly Baseball Complex.

Garland hit the first walk-off home run in school history as the No. 12 Grizzlies rallied from a three-run deficit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Then, the extra-inning victory was the second of this spring and the 13th in program history, with no setbacks along the way.

GGC trailed 7-2 in the seventh inning. However, the team once again battled until the game's final out. Freshman Nick Barnes lined a two-run double to trim the deficit to 7-6.

Lindsey Wilson (3-4) seemed to be in control when a two-run double by Ben Heideman added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning.

But, the hosts fought back again in the home half of the inning. Barnes once again trimmed the deficit to one run, 9-8, with his second straight two-run double. Then, senior Kade Carrigan followed with a game-tying single to left field that brought home junior Brandon Robinson.

Junior right hander Jordan Tylski got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th inning by getting two strikeouts. He followed by tossing a scoreless 11th inning to set up Garland's heroics.

The first baseman blasted his second home run of the season on the first pitch he faced in the extra frame. It gave the Grizzlies their only lead of the game and the fifth victory when the team had trailed in the sixth inning.

Turning Point

Trailing 9-6 in Friday's series opener, the Grizzlies mounted a comeback. Freshman Nick Barnes' second straight two-run double made things interesting, at 9-8. Senior Kade Carrigan followed with a game-tying single to left field that scored junior Brandon Robinson.

Key Plays

Bottom of Seventh

A throwing error on a play that could have ended the inning opening the way for Cord Johnson to score, cutting GGC's deficit to 7-4

Nick Barnes then lined a two-run double to bring the hosts within 7-6

Top of Ninth

Ben Heideman added two runs with a double to give the Blue Raiders a 9-6 advantage

Bottom of Ninth

Nick Barnes' double to the left-center gap scored Cam Coursey and Alex Garland, cutting Lindsey Wilson's lead to 9-8

Kade Carrigan tied the contest at 9-9 with a single that drove home Brandon Robinson from second base

Bottom of 11th

Alex Garland connected on his second home run of the season to give GGC its only lead of the game. It is the first walk-off home run in school history.

Inside The Numbers

• Both teams collected 32 hits, led by GGC's 18-hit performance
• Seven pitchers saw action on the mound for the Grizzlies
• Alex Garland and Nick Barnes each collected four hits
• Lindsey Wilson scored a run in the first five innings of the game

News & Notes

• Georgia Gwinnett College improves to 9-1 on the season; Lindsey Wilson drops to 3-4
• GGC is now 13-0 in program history in extra-inning games; the team has now played two extra-inning contest this spring
• GGC has won five games when being tied or trailing in the sixth inning
• The Grizzlies have won all seven games played at the Grizzly Baseball Complex this season
• GGC holds a 4-3 advantage in the series history between the two colleges
• The hosts are ranked No. 12 in the NAIA preseason Top 25 poll

Up Next

Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to resume the three-game home series with the Blue Raiders Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m.